Can opener



April 15, 1952 R. E.- MCLEAN 2,592,937

CAN OPENER Filed June 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hq, 1. 5 FIQ, 2.

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Y minimum-lum me/who@ Roberl'E MCL eau R. E. MCLEAN April 15, 1952 CAN OPENER 3 Sheets-Sheetl 2 Filed June 25, 1948 3mm Robert EMuLean/ R. E. MCLEAN April 15, 1952 CAN OPENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1948 RobertElUl/*Lean latentetlpr. 1.5, 1952 CAN OPENER Robert E. McLean, Columbus, Ga., assigner to J ohn C. Hockery, Kansas City, Mo., as trustee Application June 25, 1948, Serial No.735,151

20 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in can openers and more especially can openers of the rotary drive wheel type wherein the driving Wheel engages thev under edge of a can rim and rotates the can relatively to a cutter.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved can opener of the rotary drive wheel type and of a heavy duty type such as those used in the kitchens of hotels, in restaurants and `other places where a can opener is subjected to constant use a'nd more or less rough treatment, the present opener being not only of substantial and durable construction but provided with a single operating handle for simplicity and speed of operation, wherein partial transverse swinging of the said single operating handle causes the device to puncture the end of a can and secure the can in the device and subsequent clockwise rotation of the said single operating handle causes the device to cut out the end of the can, the release of the can from the device being effected by a reverse partial transverse swinging of the operating handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heavy duty type can opener of the character .stated wherein is employed the novel cooperating can feed or driving wheel yand disk cutter particularly illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 728,063, filed February l2, 1947.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotary drive wheel heavy duty type can opener of the character described having a fixed can rest rearwardly of the can feed or driving wheelV and disk cutter and a resilient can rest forwardly of said parts, for the purpose of preventing the can from tilting while in the device and to improve the traction of the teeth `of the can feed or driving wheel with the under `edge of the rim or flange of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can openerof the heavy duty, rotary drive wheel type, as stated, wherein the can feed o-r driving -wheel is supported for limited transverseoscillation as well as for rotation, in a substantially U-shaped yoke, with the drive wheel operating handle connected with and supported by the yoke in such manner that thrust applied to the said operating handle for the purpose of oscillating 'the yoke and effecting the puncturing of the end of the can by the cutter, is directly and eiciently transmitted to the can driving wheel to elevate the latter for effecting this operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heavy duty type can opener of the character stated wherein the operating handle and the can rim engaging driving wheel are supported on an oscillatable yoke unit, with a locking means for maintaining the yoke in a predetermined position when the driving wheel and cutter are in operating relation and novel means controlled by oscillatio-n of the handle relative to the yoke for effecting therelease or disengagement of said locking means whereby to permit oscillation of the supporting yoke, handle and driving Wheel and separation of the driving wheel from the cutter.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art;

In the drawings:

FigureV 1 is a View in front elevation of a can opener constructed in accordance with one Vernbodiment of the present invention, the lower portion of the supporting standard and the mounting plate therefor being removed.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the inner or left hand side of the same.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the same.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Y

Figure V5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a View corresponding to Figure 4 but showing the handle and driving wheel supporting yoke oscillated to a position for' separating the driving wheel and cutter.

Figure 7 is a detail section showing sa modificationv of the yoke securing latch. A

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral Il) generally designates a supporting post or standard of tubular form and substantially square cross section and of the type'coininonly employed for the support of heavy duty'type can openers of the character herein set forth.

A' supporting standard of the character herein disclosed is illustrated in my Patent Number 2,498,440, dated February 21, 1950. Such a supporting standard or shaft is preferably mounted to be maintained in vertical position, as illustrated in my vprior application, to be slidablymovable vertically in a base plate having a suitable aperture for the reception of the standard or shaft. the'base-plate being adapted to be fastened to the top of a table or other horizontal supporting surface and suitable means being provided for coupling the standard and base plate together at various vertical positions of the standard to facilitate the opening of cans of various heights.

The upper end of the standard I0 has fixed thereto the vertically disposed fixed front and rear plates Il and l2. Each of these plates is of substantial width at its top end as is clearly shown in Figures 1, 4, and 6, and is integral with the narrow bottom portion II-I2 which is of a width substantially equal to the side of the standard I which it opposes.

Interposed between the portions I I'-I2 of the f plates and the adjacent side of the standard II) are the relatively long dat front and rear portions I3 and I6 respectively of a can rest which is generally designated I5. portions of the can rest I5 have integrally connested therewith at their top ends, the laterally inwardly directed relatively narrow arms I6 which are connected together by the cross plate I'I. Y

The narrow lower ends iI-I2' of the side plates together with the front and rear portions I3 and I4 of the iixed lower can rest structure I5 are secured together by the transverse rivets I8 which pass transversely through the standard as clearly illustrated inV Figure 5, and through the body plate portions and the stated portions of the can rest.A These rivets also operate to maintain against 'the lower part Il' of the front plate II, theplate I9 which forms the lower portion of a resilient or yieldable can rest whichis generally designated 20. The upper part of'this plate I9 has the right angled forwardly extending lip or ange 2I which terminates at its forward edge inthe upwardly directed portion` 22A and this portion has at its central part the upstanding tongue 23, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

"As previously stated the top portions of the front and rear fixed body plates II and I2 respectively are of substantially greater width than the lower portions which are iixed to the standard I0 and as each of the narrower lower portions I I'-I2' is at one side of the body plate, the major part of each body plate extends inwardly or to the left as shown. The rear plate I2 has a substantially horizontal xed can rest ange 24 which is directed to the front or toward the front plate II as shown rnost clearly in Figure 2, this ange or fixed can rest 24 being at a substantial distance above the xed rest I5 and also above the upper end of the standard I0.

Positioned between the front and rear plates I I and I2 is a substantially U-shaped, upright yoke which is generally designated 25 and which comprises the spaced parallel upstanding front and rear sides 26 and 2l respectively and the cross connecting bottom or floor portion 28.

Anchoredin the front and rear body plates I I and I2 are front and rear pivot trunnions 29 and 30 respectively, each of which atits inner end is of slightly" enlarged diameter to extend into and through the bearing opening 3I in the adjacent side portion of the yoke 25.

The trunnion 29 is of slightly greater length than the trunnion 30 as'shown and t'has rotatablymounted thereon the retainer journal 32 which is secured in the upper plate 33 forming a part of the resilient rest structure 20. This upper plate 33 0f the resilient rest structure has the outwardly and downwardly extending'portion 34 which is in opposed relation with the upwardly directed portion 22 of the lower plate and this portion 34 carries the downwardly-directed tongue 35 which is in opposed relation with the tongue 23. Between the opposing flange portions 22 and 34, is interposed the coil spring 35 into the lowerand upper ends of which the tongues 23 and 35 extend.

The pivot trunnion 29 upon which the upper plate. 33 of the resilient rest is mounted, is inwardly orto the left of the spring 36 and a por- These front and rear tion of this plate 33 extends inwardly beyond the pivot trunnion as indicated at 3l in Figure 1 and terminates in the angularly directed iange 38, Figure 2, which extends across a lower edge portion of the front wall plate II and is in spaced opposed relation with the fixed rest 24 which is at the rear side of the device.

At the outer or right hand edge of the front plate I i there is formed the recess 39 and extending into or through this recess is the rearwardly turned or directed stop iinger e0 which is carried by the right hand or outer end of the oscillatable plate 33. This tongue engages the top of the recess 39 to limit the downward swinging of the movable rest 33, as will be readily apparent.

Resting upon the floor 28 of the oscillatable yoke 25 is a bearing block [il through the center of which is formed a bearing passage $2 for the reception of the shaft e3. This bearing block M is secured to the floor of the yoke by the rivets dfi. The bearing block extends outwardly or to the right a short distance beyond the standard and the outer vertical edges of the body plates Ii and I2.

The outer end of the shaft is reduced and made of polygonal cross section as indicated at $3' and this reduced portion extends through a relatively long vertically disposed block 44'.

The numeral generally designates the operating handle or crank, which is of channel form, having the spaced side flanges i6 and the outer connecting wall d?.

The block M is disposed lengthwise between the nanges it of the handle and is pivotally mounted between such flanges by the transverse rivet i8 which is disposed below the shaft 43.

Above the shaft 43, the block 43 has formed in the outer face, the socket 49 in which is seated an end of a coil spring 58, the other end of this spring engaging the outer portion il of the crank handle and functioning to normally urge oscillation of the handle on the pivot 8 in a direction to shift the upper end of the handle away from the body plates when the handle is in the hanging position shown in Figures l and Li.

The said upper end of the handle is closed by the head 5i which is extended beyond or inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the ilanges 4&3, as shown in Figures 1 and 4 and is adapted, upon oscillation of the handle on the pivot d8 to enter between the side members 23--27 of the oscillatable yoke 25.

The central portion el of the handle has a tongue struck therefrom and turned at right angle inwardly toward the lower end of the block et' as indicated at 52. This tongue is normally engaged by the block ed' and maintains the handle in parallel relation with the block.

At its outer or lower end the central or intermediate portion !'l of the handle has secured thereto an end of the pin 53 upon which is rotatably rnounted the handle knob Sci.

At its inner end the shaft 43 has secured thereto the peripherally toothed can rim engaging driving wheel 55. This wheel is in spaced relation with the inner end of the bearing block 4l and mounted for free rotation on the shaft between the wheel 55 and the end of the bearing block is a thrust wheel 56 and a spacer disk 5l. The spacer diskV has a thickened central portion or hub as shown and surrounding this hub and interposed between the spacer disk and the thrust wheel 5E is an annular corrugated spring 58. While a spring of this character is preferred, use maybe made of a spring of the alternate type illustrated in my pending application Serial No. '728,063 filed February 12, 1947. This spring normally maintains the spacer 51 and the thrust wheel 56 in desired spaced relation but is yieldable upon the application of thrust to the wheel 56 as illustrated in Figure 4, when the parts are moved together into operative relation.

Extending transversely between the front and rear walls II-I2 of the opener are thei spaced parallel xed plates 59 and 66. These plates support between them on an angle oblique to "the vertical axis of the opener, the journal 6I, vthe ends of which are rotatably mounted in bea-ring openings 62 formed in the plates 59 and 60. This journal has secured thereto adjacent its inner end and adjacent the plate 69, the disk cutter 63 which cooperates with the can` rim engaging driving wheel 55 in an obvious manner and also mounted upon the journal 6l is a thrust wheel 64 which is of slightly larger diameter than the wheel 56 and which is adapted to be engagedby the latter wheel when the cutter and drive wheel are in operating relation. The thrust wheel 64 is maintained in slightly spaced relation from the adjacent plate 59 by the spacer collar 65which encircles and forms a part of the journal 6|.

Mounted atits ends in and extending between the upper ends of the spaced parts 26 and 21of the oscillatable yoke, is a shaft 65. At thecenter of this shaft there is mounted thereon Va latch element which is generally designated` 66 and which includes a relatively long normally horizontal inwardly directed latching nger 61 and a short downwardly extending trip finger 68. The latch 66 is secured to the shaft 65 by the pin 69. Extending transversely between the plates H and I2 at the inner side thereof and adjacent to the top edges of the plates, is a keeper 10, the outer edge of which is engaged in the notch 1l in the latch nger, when the latch is lin position to maintain the oscillatable yoke 25 in vertical position as shown in Figure 4.

Secured transversely between the side portions 26 and 21 of the yoke is the sleeve 12. In each end of this sleeve is slidably mounted a plunger 13 which is adapted to have contact at its outer end with the inner side of the adjacent wall plate. Within the sleeve 12 is a coil spring 14 which engages at its two ends against the inner ends of the plungers and constantly urges the plungers outwardly into frictional contact with the adjacent plates.

Encircling the shaft 65 isa spring 15, one end of which extends downwardly and engages behind the sleeve 12, while the other end is secured in an aperture 16 in the latch finger, as shown in Figure 4. This spring 15 is biased to constantly pull down upon the latch finger so as to maintain engagement between the keeper 10 andthe notched end 1l of the finger.

Adjacent to the left hand or inner vertical edges of the body plates l l and l2, there extends across between the plates the spacer sleeve 11 and passing through this sleeve is the long rivet 18, the ends of which are xed in the body plates Il and l2.

In the operation of the present opener, when the same is set up for use, the operating handle 45 if in the vertical hanging position shown in Figure 1 is first oscillated on the pivot 48 to bring the extended finger portion I at the top thereof into engagement with the trip finger 68. As shown in Figure 4 this trip nger extends down suiiiciently far to be engaged by the handle finger 5 l and when so engaged by the oscillation of the handle againstl the tension oi the spring 50, the trigger element 66 will be oscillated against the resistance of the spring 15 so as to lift the notched end of the latch finger out of engagement with the keeper 10. Wheny this occurs the yoke 25 is freed so that it can be oscillated on the trunnions 29 and 30. This oscillationis then easily accomplished by pulling outwardly and upwardly on the handle until the yoke and the partscarried thereby have assumed the positionsshown in Figure 6.

This operation disengages the thrust wheels 56 and 64 and moves the can driving wheel 55 downwardly and outwardly away from the disk cutter 63 as shown in Figure 6.

Thev` can is now placed in position with the side wall against the xed lower rest l5 and 'with the flange of the can overlying the-toothed periphery ofthe driving wheel 55. When the can is in this position the handle or crank 45 is then forced downwardly and inwardly at its lower end so that the can will be raised and the cutting edge of the cutter 63 will be pressed against and forced through the can top as the driving wheel 55 swings to the starting position shown in Figure 4, where the flat inner side face of the driving wheel and one of the tapered faces of the cutter are substantially parallel. faces of the cutter and driving wheel will be 'closely spaced so that the can wall will be .re-

siliently secured between them, and the flange of the can will rest upon the top of the wheel 55.

As the cutter is forced into the head of the can, the top of the can rim will be brought into.

engagement with the fixed and movable rests 24 and 36 respectively. Further swinging movement of the operating handle 45 and the yoke 25 is prevented by the floor portion 28 of the yoke seating on the upper end of the standard l0.

When the operating handle 45 has been swung to the position illustrated in Figures l and 4 the latch 66 is oscillated counter-clockwise until the keeper 10 is engaged in the notch 1I of the linger 61. By this means the yoke 25 will be prevented from oscillating counter-clockwise out of the position shown in Figure 4 by any thrust exerted on the can driving wheel 55. y

During the described movement of the' can and the upward thrust of the driving wheel the top of the rim or flange of the can engages the fixed rest 24 as stated and also the resilient rest 38, oscillating `the latter slightly against tension of the spring'36. The notch 39 formed in the front plate andin which the movement limiting nger 40 of the resilient can rest lies, limits the oscilflation of thecan rest to predetermined extreme positions.

The operating handle is then rotated clockwise until the end of the can is cut out. After this operation is completed the operating handle is held in the position illustrated in Figure 4 and, while the can is held by the left hand, the'handle 45 is flipped from the position illustrated in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 6 to release. the can from the device and prepareit for the reception of the next can. The previously described action as between the parts 5I and 66 is then-re.- peated so that the yoke is released and is free to be oscillated by further outward movement of the handle to remove the driving wheel from the cutter and thus release the can.

While a can is engaged in the device the fixed rest 24 prevents it from tilting as the can driving wheel feeds it through the device to cut out the end of the can and the resilient can rest 38 exerts sufficient downward pressure on the rim These' or iiange of the can to assure traction of the teeth of the can driving wheel with the under edge of the rim or ange of the can.

When the handle 45 is swung outwardly to oscillate the yoke to the position shown in Figure 6, the lfrictional engagement of the plungers 13 with the fixed body plates Il and I2 will be suincien-t to maintain the yoke in any position, to which it is manually moved, against accidental movement.

By reason of the engagement of the thrust wheels 56 and vt4 in the manner shown in Figure 4, during the operation of the device for cutting out the head of a can, slight axial movement is permitted when necessary as when the driving wheel is passing the seam of a can by the yielding of the spring 58, the shaft 43 shifting slightly to the right and returning after the passing of the seam, under the action of the spring 58.

Figure 'l' illustrates a modification of the locking or securing means for the oscillatable yoke. In this detail view the upper end of the rear plate is designated l2a and the upper end of the rear portion of the oscillatable yoke is designated 21a.

The numeral 65a designates the shaft which I connects the upper ends of the side portions of the yoke and at the inner vertical edges of the side plates is the slightly repositicned spacer 'ifa and rivet 18a which passes through the spacer.

Connecting the shaft 65a and the spacer Tlc is a toggle which is generally designated i9. This toggle comprises the two links 8B and 8i the link B being mounted upon the sleeve lla and the link 8| being mounted upon and secured to the shaft 65a by the pin 69a. While the link Eil has f been shown as single it may be double or a bifurcated link as desired to receive the opposing end of the link Si and the two links are pivotally coupled together by the pin 82.

Integral with the link SI is the depending trip ringer 68a which is engaged .by the inwardly directed actuating linger 5l which forms a part of the operating crank or handle.

The same type of spring, here designated ia is employed for maintaining the links of the toggle in aligned relation as shown whereby to lock the yoke against oscillation, as is disclosed in the rst described embodiment of the invention.

It will be readily apparent that in the operation of the device using the toggle coupling 'I9 or toggle locking means, when the handle is oscillated on the pivot 48 against the tension of the spring 5B, the actuating finger 5I will engage the trip nnger 68a so as to swing the link 8i upwardly. This will also swing the attached vlink 80 and break the toggle thus Vpermitting the upper part of the pivoted yoke to swing inwardly as the yoke is illustrated in Figure 6.

It is to be understood that, if it is desired to lmake the device is such manner that parts most subjected to wear can be readily replaced, bolts may be substituted for the rivets i8 and I8 to permit easy dis-assembly and re-assernb-ly of the device.

The present invention incorporates in a heavy duty type can opener of the character described, the advantages and functional peculiarities of the novel association of the disk cutter with coaxially positioned integral thrust wheel that resiliently straddles the can driving wheel, the side wall portion of a can engaged in the device, Vand a thrust wheel coaxially positioned with the can driving lwheehas more fully described in my previously referred to co-pending application Serial No. 728,063, led February 12, 1947.

As recited in the objects of my referenced copending application, it will be observed that thrust in the bearings for the journals of the disk cutter is practically reduced to radial thrust only, providing greater ease of rotation for the said disk cutter, as well as eliminating wear in the bearings of the most harmful type.

It will also be seen that, inasmuch as the side wall of the can, the can driving wheel, and the thrust wheel positioned coaxially therewith are resiliently wedged Ibetween the disk cutter and thrust wheel integrally and coaxially therewith, a frictional driving connection is established to supplement traction of the cutting edge portion of the disk cutter with the top or end of the can to rotate the said disk cuter.

It will also be observed that the predetermined lateral spacing between the can driving wheel and the disk cutter is not increased by reason of wear in the bearings of the disk cutter or can driving wheel, and that the wedging action obtained by such cooperation between the disk cutter and integral thrust wheel with the can driving wheel and coaxially positioned resilient thrust wheel always maintains the teeth of the can driving wheel under the full width or thickness of the rim or flange of a can for most eiiicient operation, even after extensive use.

Of course, it will be understood that the elimination of torsional thrust in the bearings for the journals of the disk cutter, together with the frictional driving connection imparted to the disk cutter as previously described, materially reduces the effort required to rotate the can driving wheel for feeding a can through the device for cutting out the end thereof.

Inasmuch as the can driving wheel is positioned opposite but near a fulcrum for direct movement when force is applied to the free end of the operating handle or crank, unusual efficiency is attained for puncturing of the end of a can.

As described, it is intended that the present invention possesses properties of unusual eine ciency of operation, and simplicity and speed of operation, as well as durability.

I claim:

l. A can opener of the character described com.- prising a xed cutter, a unit supported adjacent thereto for oscillation in a plane perpendicular-t0 the edge of the cutter, a can rim engaging driving wheel rotatably supported on said unit, said.un1t when oscillated in one direction moving said wheel into cooperative working relation with the cutter, a crank connected with the wheel for efiecting rotation of the wheel, a latching means securing the unit against oscillation vwhen the wheel and cutter are in the said working relation, and means for releasing said latching means by said crank to facilitate oscillation o f the-unit.

2. A can opener comprising a support, a cutter carried thereby, a rotatable can rim `engaging driving wheel, crank means connected with fthe wheel for rotating the same, means supporting the wheel and crank means on the support foros.- cillation as a unit in a plane perpendicular to-the edge of the cutter to move the wheel into and out of working relation with the cutter, spring urged latch means separate from the wheel and crank supporting means for automatically securingsaid wheel supporting means against oscillation in said plane in relation to the cutter when the wheel and cutter have been moved into working relation, nandmeans;forlreleasingthelatch means@ 3. A can opener of the character described in claim 2 in which the latching means release is effected by the crank means.

4. A can opener of the character described in claim 2 wherein said crank means is supported for limited oscillation in one direction independently of the said means for supporting the wheel and crank means, and means carried by the crank means for effecting the release of the latch means when the crank is independently oscillated.

5. A can opener of the characted stated in claim 2 wherein said crank means is pivotally supported for oscillation on an axis parallel to the axis of oscillation of the said wheel and crank supporting means, and means carried by the crank means for engaging and releasing said latch upon oscillation of the crank means in one direction upon the pivotal support for` the crank.

6. A can opener comprising a support, a cutter carried thereby. a rotatable can rim engaging driving wheel, a crank connected with the wheel for effecting rotation of the same, means supportingthe wheel and crank on the support for oscillation as a unit relative to the cutter to move the wheel into and out of working relation with the cutter, a pivoted latch supported for oscillation with and independently of the axis of oscillation for the supporting means, a fixed keeper engaged by the latch to maintain the supporting means against oscillation when the wheel and cutter are in working relation, means supporting the crank for oscillation on an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel, and means carried by the crank for engaging and releasing the latch upon oscillation of the crank independently of the supporting means.

'7. A can opener of the character stated in claim 6 in which the latch comprises a relatively long latch finger, a fixed keeperand a trip linger engaged by said crank means, and spring means connecting the latch with the supporting means and urging oscillation of the latch in a direction to engage the keeper.

8. A can opener of the character described comprising a support, a pair of spaced body members carried by the support, a cutter mounted between the body members, an oscillatable unit mounted between the body members, a shaft rotatably carried by the oscillatable unit and having its axis disposed perpendicular to the axis of oscillation for the unit, a can rim engaging driving wheel carried upon one end of the shaft and adapted upon oscillation of the unit to be moved into and out of working relation with the cutter, a crank supported upon the other end of the shaft for effecting rotation of the shaft and the wheel, latching means supported for turning movement with said unit for establishing a locking connection between the unit and the body members to maintain the unit against oscillation, and means carried by the crank for engaging and releasing the latching means upon movement of the crank in one direction.

9. A can opener of the character stated in claim 8 wherein said crank is supported upon the shaft for limited oscillation independently of the oscillatable unit and on an axis perpendicular to the shaft.

l0. A can opener of the character described, comprising a support, a pair o-f spaced body members carried by the support, spaced plates mounted between the body members, a journal rotatably supported by and between said plates, a cutter disk carried upon the journal, a substantially U- shaped yoke member having spaced side portions A and a cross connectingfloor portion and disposed. between the body members, means pivotally con-v necting the side portions of the yoke with the spaced body members for oscillatably supporting p the yoke on an axis extending transversely of yoke, a can rim engaging driving wheel secured to;

one end-of thel shaft for movement into and out of operative relation with the cutter upon oscilla-4` tion of the yoke, a crank supported upon the. other end of the shaft for effecting rotation of the same and the wheel, latch means carried between the side portions of the yoke above the.

pivot axis thereof, a keeper operatively connect.

ing the latch means with the body member, and means carried by the crank for releasing the4 latch upon movement of the crank in one direc-. tion.

1 1. A can opener of the character stated in claim 10, with a disk wheel supported on the.A

shaft in spaced relation with and for free move. ment relative to the can driving Wheel, a disk wheel mounted upon the journal, and spring means interposed between the can rim engaging wheel and the disk wheel on the shaft, said disk wheels having their peripheries pressed together. when the driving wheel is in operative relation.- with the cutter, the planes of the` disk wheelswhen engaged being obliquely angled..l

12. A can opener of the character described;a comprising a support, a pair of spaced plate mem;

bers carried by the support, a pair -vof xed plates disposed in spaced relation between the4 -plate members, an arbor rotatably supported between the fixed plates, a cutter disk supported-fuponthe arbor, a substantially U-shaped unit disposed uprightly between the plate members having side` the shaft when the shaft supporting unit is hang-1 ing vertically, means carried by and forming a5 coupling between the upper ends of the side portions of the unit and the plate members for locking said unit in vertical position, a crank, means connecting the crank with the other end of the shaft whereby vthe crank has oscillatory movement on an axis perpendicular to the shaft and-v independently of the vunit, and means carried yby the crank for breaking the locking connection between the unit and the body members upon oscillation of the crank in one direction independently of said unit.

13. A can opener of the character stated in claim l2 wherein the said means connecting the crank with the shaft comprises a block member secured to the said other end of the shaft, the crank having longitudinally extending spaced side members between which the block member is positioned, a pivot pin extending through said block member and secured at its ends to the spaced side' members of the crank, the pivot pin being below the wheel shaft when the crank is in hanging' position, and spring means interposed between the block member upon the opposite side lof the crank from the pivot pin and the crank member and normally urging oscillation of the crank member kon the pivot pin in a direction to move the latch engaging meansI away from the latch.

14. A can opener of the character stated in claim 112, with spring pressed friction elements carried by' the side portions of the U-shaped member`I and having contact with` the inner sides' of the plate members for maintaining the oscill'atable unit against free swinging after release of the latch;

125. A canI opener of the' character stated in claim 1'2, with a xedcan rest carried by one plate member at one side of the cutter disk, a yieldable can rest oscillatably supported at one side of the otherl plate member' upon the supporting pivot for the adjacent side portion of the U-shaped unit, said yieldable can rest including an outwardly and downwardly extending finger, a xed finger Opposing theV first finger, and a spring means interposed between said ngers.

16. A can opener of the character stated in claim l2 wherein said can rim engaging wheel supporting shaft has limited longitudinal movement, a cone wheel supported on said shaft for free rotation between the rim engaging wheel and thel bearing, spring means encircling the shaft between the rim engaging wheel and the cone wheel and normally urging the two wheels apart, and a cone Wheel carried upon the arbor, the wheel shaft supporting cone wheel being brought into peripheral contact with the second cone wheel on the side ofthe latter adjacent to the cutter when therim engaging wheel is moved into cooperative relation with the cutter. l

1'?. A can opener of the character described comprising a support, a pair of body plates mounted in xed spaced relation upon the support, apair of transverse plates secured in spaced relation between the body plates, an arbor supported between said transverse plates, a cutter-disk mounted upon the arbor, a substantially U-shaped unit positioned between the body pla-tes' outwardly of the fixed plates, said unit comprising twov upright side portions and a cross connecting floor portion, pivot trunnons connecting the side portions of the unit with the adjacent plate members at an elevation below the center of the cutter disk, a bearing block supported transversely of said fioor portion, a shaft extending through and rotatably supported in the bearing block, a can rim engaging driving wheels secured to an end of the shaft for copperative action with the cutter, said unit having a working position in which the axis of rotation for the cutter is oblique to the axis of the shaft, the wheel being in close proximity to the cutter and a non-working position in which the axis of rotation for the cutter and the shaft are substantially parallel, a crank member supported upon the other end of the shaft for rotating the shaft, the crank member supporting means being designed to facilitate oscillation of the crank on an axis perpendicular to the shaft and independent of the oscillation of the unit, yieldable means normally-maintaining the. crank substantially perpendicular to said shaft, releasable locking means carried between the upper ends of the side portions of said unit and connected with said body plates to hold the unit against oscillation when the unit is in the said working positionI and means carried by the crank for tripping the latching means upon oscillation of the crank independently of the unit.

`18.AV can opener of the character stated in claim 1'7 wherein said latcning means comprises a shaft supported transversely between, the u pper ends of the unit sidel portions, a body secured to the shaft and having aA relatively' long latch finger and a short depending trip finger, a keeper secured transversely between the body plates with which the latch fingerY engages when the said' U-shaped element is in working position, and spring means constantly urging oscillation of the latch member in a. direction to effectengagement between the latching finger and the keeper when the U.shaped element is moved to the said working position.

19. A can opener of' the character stated in claim 17 wherein said latching means comprises a shaft supported transversely between the upper ends of the side. portions of the` U-shaped unit, a pin extending transversely betweenv the body plates, a toggle link having two pivotally coupled portions, one of said toggle link portions being oscillatably supported upon. the pivot. pin and the other toggle link portion. being se.- cured to the last mentioned shaft, the said other one of the togglev link portions having a depending trip finger for engagement by the said portion of the crank, and spring means between the said other one of the. toggle link portions and the unit and constantly urging the toggle link into straightened condition.

20. A can opener of the character described comprising a supporting standard which is upright in use, a pair of spaced upright plates having lower end portions between which the upper end of the standard is positioned, a pair of spaced, flat members having the said upper end Y of the standard therebetween, securing elements extending transversely through the plates, ila-t members and the interposed end of the standard and securing all of such parts together, a can rim iiange engaging driving wheel, a shaft carrying said wheel upon one end, a supporting bearing for said shaft mounted betweenV said upright plates to rotatably support the shaft across the top end of the standard in substantially parallel relation with the opposing facesA of the plates, a supporting means disposed across the space between and carried by said plates at an elevation above said shaft, an arbor carried by said supporting means with its axis in the ver tical plane of the axis of the shaft, a cutter wheel carried by the arbor, means for moving the can rim engaging driving wheel relative to the cutter, means for rotating the shaft, a pair of spaced parallel arms carried by said flat members and extending laterally of the standard upon the same side as and below the can rim engaging driving wheel, and a plate extending across between and connecting said arms and positioned a slightly greater distance laterally of the standard than the can rim engaging driving wheel. the structure comprising the at members, arms and plate providing a rest against the plate of which bears the side wall of a can in the opener.

ROBERT E'. MCLEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,441,652 Andrae Jan. 9, 1923 1,539,211. Scruggs May 26, 1925 1,742,140' Girard Dec. 3l, 1929 1,751,251 Sawyer Mar. 18, 1930 

